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Mrs Flynn said she felt pressurised to take the replacement grave as the funeral was already arranged, but was unhappy with its position in the far corner of the cemetery next to the fence.

In a statement, Bicester Town Council’s chief officer Sue Mackrell said the council did not know which parts of the cemetery were affected by ground water until they were excavated.

She said: “In normal circumstances the water table is much lower and ground water is not a problem.

“The grave space in question was reserved some years ago when the climatic conditions were very different to those we experience now, and BTC could not have foreseen the conditions that we are now facing.”

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The council said it acted quickly to find an alternative site to minimise the distress to the Flynn family.

It did not plan to make any changes to its system, but had stopped allowing people to reserve plots as space was running out. It also confirmed there would be no exhumation of any bodies due to the high water table.

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Comments (5)

The council policy seems to me to be very reasonable. To dig bore holes on every grave would be extremely expensive requiring a very large increase in the grave purchase prices that many people would object to and it sounds as though the water table can vary from year to year, this year being much higher because of the recent high rainfall so that a grave space that might have been OK a few years ago is not today.

The council policy seems to me to be very reasonable. To dig bore holes on every grave would be extremely expensive requiring a very large increase in the grave purchase prices that many people would object to and it sounds as though the water table can vary from year to year, this year being much higher because of the recent high rainfall so that a grave space that might have been OK a few years ago is not today.West Oxon Webwatcher

The council policy seems to me to be very reasonable. To dig bore holes on every grave would be extremely expensive requiring a very large increase in the grave purchase prices that many people would object to and it sounds as though the water table can vary from year to year, this year being much higher because of the recent high rainfall so that a grave space that might have been OK a few years ago is not today.

Score: 0

Bob 1900 says...6:42pm Mon 10 Dec 12

In fact the council would have known the problem with the high water table and being a seasonal problem is not an exscuse. The test bore holes were carried out as part of the survey of the new cemetery extension and this was identified as a potential problem at certain times of the year. This can not be blamed on the changing climatic conditions, we are not talking about the start of a new ice age. The point that is being missed is the fact that this could happen to any other family who may have reserved a grave as a double depth in this particular part of the cemetery. The problem needs to be addressed as a matter of some urgency.

In fact the council would have known the problem with the high water table and being a seasonal problem is not an exscuse. The test bore holes were carried out as part of the survey of the new cemetery extension and this was identified as a potential problem at certain times of the year. This can not be blamed on the changing climatic conditions, we are not talking about the start of a new ice age.
The point that is being missed is the fact that this could happen to any other family who may have reserved a grave as a double depth in this particular part of the cemetery. The problem needs to be addressed as a matter of some urgency.Bob 1900

In fact the council would have known the problem with the high water table and being a seasonal problem is not an exscuse. The test bore holes were carried out as part of the survey of the new cemetery extension and this was identified as a potential problem at certain times of the year. This can not be blamed on the changing climatic conditions, we are not talking about the start of a new ice age. The point that is being missed is the fact that this could happen to any other family who may have reserved a grave as a double depth in this particular part of the cemetery. The problem needs to be addressed as a matter of some urgency.

Score: 0

Budowaah says...8:41pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Not a nice story to read, admittedly. Perhaps when the summer comes and the hedge blooms, it won't be quite so bad. If it's any consolation, I wouldn't mind a little secluded corner.

Not a nice story to read, admittedly.
Perhaps when the summer comes and the hedge blooms, it won't be quite so bad. If it's any consolation, I wouldn't mind a little secluded corner.Budowaah

Not a nice story to read, admittedly. Perhaps when the summer comes and the hedge blooms, it won't be quite so bad. If it's any consolation, I wouldn't mind a little secluded corner.

Score: 0

Pavinder Msvarensy says...6:22pm Tue 11 Dec 12

I don't normally encourage people to take our money, but in this case i will make an exception. Mrs Flynn, sue them.

I don't normally encourage people to take our money, but in this case i will make an exception. Mrs Flynn, sue them.Pavinder Msvarensy

I don't normally encourage people to take our money, but in this case i will make an exception. Mrs Flynn, sue them.

Score: 0

Bob 1900 says...7:43pm Tue 11 Dec 12

The worrying fact is that if this alternative grave was not available Mrs Flynn would not have been able to be buried with her husband. The council have well and truly fouled up, I would suggest a public enquiry at the very least............... ......oh and guess what! they are putting the price of burials up in Bicester cemetery

The worrying fact is that if this alternative grave was not available Mrs Flynn would not have been able to be buried with her husband. The council have well and truly fouled up, I would suggest a public enquiry at the very least...............
......oh and guess what! they are putting the price of burials up in Bicester cemeteryBob 1900

The worrying fact is that if this alternative grave was not available Mrs Flynn would not have been able to be buried with her husband. The council have well and truly fouled up, I would suggest a public enquiry at the very least............... ......oh and guess what! they are putting the price of burials up in Bicester cemetery

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